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Gingerbread cookies are a classic favorite Christmas cookie and this makes the best gingerbread cookie recipe!
Gingerbread cookies were not my favorite cookies growing up. To be completely honest, I never really cared for them until about five years or so ago when I decided that I was going to create a gingerbread cookie that I absolutely loved.
My ultimate gingerbread cookie had a few requirements:
– it had to be full of gingerbread spice without being overwhelming
– it had to be soft and tender, yet hold up well for baking, decorating, and sharing with friends
– my whole family had to love it
Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
It seemed a bit daunting, but I was determined. For a few days, I tried tweak after tweak, until finally, I did it. I’d made the perfect gingerbread cookies for my family.
You may spot a few ingredients that aren’t normal for gingerbread cookies. Those are part of my tweaks to make them perfect for our tastes.
How to Make the Best Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread Cookie Ingredients
For these cookies, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 3/4 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- confectioner’s sugar for dusting work surface
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add in molasses and mix until well-combined. Mix in cinnamon, ginger, cloves, espresso powder, vanilla and the egg until well-combined.
- Whisk together baking powder and baking soda into the flour and then slowly stir these dry ingredients into the molasses mixture.
- Divide the dough in half, and wrap well. Refrigerate for 1 hour up to 8 hours.
- Preheat your oven to 350° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
- Once the dough has chilled, take one piece of dough out of the refrigerator, and dust a clean work surface with confectioner’s sugar, and the dough. Roll it out as thin or thick as you like; for slightly less crisp cookies, roll it out more thickly.
- Use confectioner’s sugar under and on top of the dough to keep it from sticking to the table or rolling pin.
- Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter and place onto prepared baking sheets.
- Bake gingerbread cookies until they are lightly browned along the edges, about 12 minutes, or until they feel firm. Let the cookies cool completely before decorating, if desired.
Make Ahead Recipe
These Gingerbread Cookies make an excellent make-ahead cookie recipe.
Simply prepare the cookie dough as instructed through the first chilling. Roll out the dough as instructed and cut out the cookies as desired. Place the cookie cutouts on the prepared baking sheet and place into the freezer until firmly frozen, about 30 minutes. Place into an airtight, freezer-safe container layering cookies between parchment paper. Freeze up to 3 months.
When ready to serve, bake from frozen adding about 3 to 5 minutes to the baking time.
Here’s my gingerbread cookies recipe. I hope you love them as much as we all do!
Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 3/4 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- confectioner’s sugar for dusting work surface
Instructions
- Cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add in molasses and mix until well-combined. Mix in cinnamon, ginger, cloves, espresso powder, vanilla and the egg until well-combined.
- Whisk together baking powder and baking soda into the flour and then slowly stir these dry ingredients into the molasses mixture.
- Divide the dough in half, and wrap well. Refrigerate for 1 hour up to 8 hours.
- Preheat your oven to 350° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
- Once the dough has chilled, take one piece of dough out of the refrigerator, and dust a clean work surface with confectioner’s sugar, and the dough. Roll it out as thin or thick as you like; for slightly less crisp cookies, roll it out more thickly.
- Use confectioner’s sugar under and on top of the dough to keep it from sticking to the table or rolling pin.
- Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter and place onto prepared baking sheets.
- Bake gingerbread cookies until they are lightly browned along the edges, about 12 minutes, or until they feel firm. Let the cookies cool completely before decorating, if desired.
Nutritional Information
Happy Baking!
Robyn xo
Darn tasty! Halfway through baking them now.